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PM covers a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all sections of Australia's geographically and culturally diverse community. It looks behind political, economic, industrial, business, social, cultural, rural, regional and arts stories. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Queensland Nationals break ranks on IR

This afternoon National Party MPs in the Queensland Parliament voted with the State Labor Government against the Work Choices legislation. The motion called on all Senators from Queensland to vote down the Commonwealth's proposed industrial relations laws. The move was particularly aimed at Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce, who's so far refused to guarantee he'll deliver the vote the Federal Government needs.

Anglican head calls for IR debate

The head of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, says he backs Senator Joyce's campaign to protect Australian public holidays. And he says most people in the Anglican Church would want to see penalty rates paid for working on days like Christmas. Today Archbishop Aspinall said the legislation was being pushed through too quickly and debate should be delayed until next year.

Treasurer announces tax reform plans

After industrial relations, the Government is preparing for another major shake-up - this time in the tax system. The Treasurer Peter Costello has announced plans to scrap 2,000 pages of redundant tax laws - more than a quarter of the current legislation. And while business groups support the move - some are already saying the changes don't go far enough.

Victorian Attorney-General offers no new hope on Van Nguyen

Victoria's Attorney-General Rob Hulls has emerged from his meeting with a Senior Singapore Government Minister saying it would be wrong to offer false hope for the Nguyen family. Mr Hulls accompanied by the Australian High Commissioner in Singapore met Singapore's Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Ho Peng Kee, for about 20 minutes.

Lachlan Murdoch details meetings in lead-up to One.Tel collapse

In the Supreme Court case into the collapse of One.Tel, more details have emerged today about the relationship between James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch.Lachlan Murdoch told the court details of meetings held just days before the company collapsed. There were also accusations that some investors in One.Tel had tried to buy assets on the cheap, when the company went into financial ruin.

Conflicting evidence in Falconio trial

In Darwin, a former friend of the man charged with murdering Peter Falconio has told a Supreme Court jury that she saw him with a silver gun some time before the British tourist disappeared. But this afternoon, another witness testified that Peter Falconio himself entered her shop a week after he was supposed to have been murdered.

Malcolm McDowell launches Kubrick exhibition

Few directors have ever had more total control over their films than Stanley Kubrick but probably none were as obsessive over every detail as the man who made Dr Strangelove, 2001, A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, among others. Now Stanley Kubrick is being celebrated in an exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne.

Japan set to establish female dynastic succession

New centre for troubled Aboriginal youth

Aboriginal elders hope a newly opened youth centre in rural New South Wales will help indigenous boys beat the odds and stay out of jail.In New South Wales more than 40 percent of male prisoners are Aboriginal. The Tirkandi centre, on a farm near Coleambally, will be a temporary home for boys who've started to get into trouble.

Report shows high animal road kill toll in Tasmania

Tasmanian car number plates may proudly bear the slogan 'the Natural State'. But evidence just released could well warrant a less marketable title: 'The Roadkill State'. It comes with figures showing that more than 100,000 animals are killed on Tasmanian roads each year.

NSW Government pushes ahead with desalination plant

Even with its major dam running dangerously low, Australia's biggest city, Sydney, can't agree on how to provide itself with a decent water supply for the future. The State Government is pushing ahead with Sydney's first desalination plant. But water experts say they're baffled by the move. They say recycling and water saving would be better and cheaper